Macaron Tutorial

Monday, April 11, 2011

Macaroon Tart.

*******************GIVEAWAY ENDED APRIL 14TH************************************Last night, as I was waiting for my flight in Orlando for my flight back home, all I could think about was the serving of Heidi's Macaroon Tart awaiting me back in Charleston.

I have had a great time teaching at Food Blog Forum on Friday and I can't wait to share pictures and information of what was shared a little later next week. My head is still full and my heart is bursting at the seam. I knew it already, but let me say it again, Food Bloggers Rock! Thanks to Julie who helped plan the whole weekend, I was able to teach a photography and styling workshop today before my flight. Awesomeness again...

Wild Rice Casserole.

Today, I really want to talk about Heidi Swanson's book Super Natural Everyday except everything I want to say never seems enough. Everytime I get a book for review, I make sure to devote a chunk of the week to cook from it. It helps see the thread use by the author to build the book. the stories, the photography. All the dishes I cooked this past week from her book led me down the same path: practical, satisfying, energizing, good and good for the soul.

Black Bean Salad.

In one word. I can't wait to cook from it even more. The food is tasty, fresh and Heidi's personality and wonderful soul shows at every turn of the page. A beautiful soul with a wonderful message to share. Good food, made with wholesome ingredients does not have to come in gargantuan portions nor is it difficult or time consuming to make. The flavors in all of Heidi's dishes are a burst of everything that is good with eating and cooking in this world.

And the photography...always loved how Heidi's lets her readers eat with their eyes first. Her photography is authentic and hers. Just as she is. Just as her food.

Millet Muffins & homemade strawberry jam.

I emailed her publicist a few days ago and asked if I could hold a giveaway of a copy of Heidi's book for you guys. To my delight, I am happy to be able to share two copies with you guys! If you need a little enticing, check out the recipes for her Shaved Fennel Salad and Macaroon Tart after the jump!

Millet Muffins and Frittata.

To enter the giveaway:- leave a comment on this post starting today until Thursday April 14th midnight Eastern time.- one comment per person- no anonymous comment please- two winners will be picked randomly by the hand of the wise, my husbandNote: it may take up to 24 hrs for your comment to appear on the page.

Heidi has this fabulous Buttermilk Cake recipe that she makes with plums but I used Pixie tangerines since they were in season.

Buttermilk Cake.

I had such a blast cooking, eating and photographing her recipes. I take immense pleasure at shooting other people's recipes and Heidi's was not exception. When it comes from the heart, the photography part becomes a source of intense joy. I hope the next few shots entice you to get her book and start cooking from her book soon.

Combine the zucchini, fennel and dill in a bowl and toss with the lemon juice, olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon slat. Set aside and marinate for 20 minutes, or up to an hour.When you are ready to serve the salad, put the arugula in a large bowl. Scoop all of the zucchini and fennel onto the arugula, and our most of the lemon juice dressing on top of that. Toss gently but thoroughly. Taste and adjust with more of the dressing, olive oil, lemon juice, or salt if needed. If the lemons were particularly tart, you may need to counter the pucker-factor by adding a tiny drizzle of honey into the salad at this point. Let your taste buds guide you. Serve topped with pine nuts and feta.

Preheat the oven to 350F/180C with a rack in the middle of the oven. Butter an 8x11-inch tart pan (I used two 14x5 ones) and line the bottom and sides with parchment paper.To make the crust, in a large bowl, combine the flour, coconut, sugar and salt. Stir in the melted butter and mix until dough is crumbly but no longer dusty looking. Firmly press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan (it should form a solid, flat layer). Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden. Remove and set aside to cool for a few minutes.In the meantime, prepare the coconut macaroon filling by combining the coconut, sugar, and egg whites. Mix until well combined.Evenly distribute the blackberries across the tart base. Now drop little dollops of the macaroon filling over the tops of them (dirty up your hands for this part), and mush and press the coconut topping around into the spaces behind the berries. Be sure to let at least some of the colorful berries pop through for visual flair.bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the peaks of the macaroon filling are deeply golden brown. Let the tart cool, then garnish with the crusted pistachios before slicing into small squares.

Heidi's blog and her first cook book have been such an inspiration for me. I always seem to have the same ingredients in my own kitchen and find myself turning to many of her recipes as a platform to create something new and delicious! Her new book doesn't seem to disappoint, thank you for the giveaway!

Ooh, if I don't win this book, I'm going to ask for it for my birthday coming up. I was just thinking I needed a new cookbook to energize me for some great cooking post-graduation in May! This looks like exactly what I want.

I have read so much about this book and now that I´ve come down with a horrible spring flu it seem even more tempting to eat good, fresh food. LOVE to read cookbooks before going to sleep, this one would be a real treat!best from berlin,a sneezing, coughing, snivelling anja xx

Guess your husband will have plenty to "choose" from! The photos (and recipes) look amazing, and my favourite thing about Heidi's recipes is the easiness and no fuss style that comes along with most part of them.

Oh wow, I would love this cookbook. The recipes look simply delicious and wholesome, just what I long for! And more vegetarian recipes to curl up with on the sofa and cook from later would be perfect. And you've photographed her food so well!

I have her original book and return to it almost every week. Like you said, the photography, the recipes, the writing, the love and care that went into crafting it, are immense. She, like you and 'Tartelette', is a true inspiration.

All the lovely photos have my mouth watering! I may try out that tart, my big sisters wedding shower is coming up, and I've been given the honour of bringing desserts! Thanks for sharing the recipes, and I hope I'll be one of the winners!

First off, I love, love, love your blog. Your photography is amoung my favorite, and I can't wait for your book to come out. This book looks so amazing and whether I happen to win this book or not, it'll have to be added to my library.

I need to remember not to read your blog first thing in the morning when I am still hungry and have no time to do anything but dash out the door to work! But it gets me thinking about what to make later when I have more time!

Oh! I just found your blog thanks to a friend of mine who adores you, and imagine my happiness that the first post is about Heidi Swanson (whose Cook 1.0 makes me incredibly happy). I'd love to have another book of hers!

This year I am all about going green! recycle reuse rescue has been my motto! I have loved reading your blog and enjoy your beautiful photography, I am a fellow blogger philosophyandcupcakes.wordpress.com This Book look lovely and I would love to give it a go!

It all looks delicious. I have fennel, feta and zucchini already in the refridgerator. I think I'll pick up some arugula on the way home and make this salad tonight! Would love to get the book and try more recipes.

My ex-roommate's girlfriend has my copy of Heidi's first book, and so I have been living without her amazing images and recipes on my cookbook shelf for months now (scheming for its return, but not particularly hopeful). I would adore to get a copy of her new book, especially now that spring is here and the farmer's markets will be back in effect, full of enticingly beautiful and radiant potential ingredients. Mmm...tart....

Just wanted to say how wonderful it was to meet you~ I cannot wait to start playing with all the knowledge you taught me. Thanks so much, I hope I will be able to attend a longer seminar by you in the future!

ohhh i love super natural cooking so much, i can only imagine how much more relevant this would be for me! cooking vegetarian food for six adults with enough for leftovers gets boring without some fresh inspiration!

I LOVE COOKBOOKS! I READ THEM LIKE NOVELS. BUT THEY ALWAYS SOUND TOO COMPLICATED FOR ME........ THIS SOUNDS AMAZING. I am a newcomer to your site and I feel a little giulty admitting this to you, because I am a little slow on the uptake.... but I must say, my guilt is definitely overshadowed by dissappointment that I've been missing out on all this great stuff! MAN!

All of these recipes look amazing! I've been making a real effort lately to cook things that are natural and healthy. All part of my 2011 goals to be more in shape and take better care of myself. This cookbook would be an amazing help to my goals.

Two worlds collide! Heidi's was the first blog I ever started following, hers are the first recipes I ever learned, and yours is the first blog I found through a blogroll -- Heidi's! Thank you for such a special treat every day!

I was already excited about her new book when Heidi published a recipe sampler, but now that reviews and posts are popping up everywhere, I can hardly wait to get my hands on it. We have her previous cookbook and love it. Her philosophy of food is so in tune with our time and her recipes and photography are so good.